The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (17 page)

“I do not ride.”
“Not at all?”
“Not at all.”
“That is interesting. I would have thought you to enjoy riding immensely.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You are not the first person to tell me so, Sir. Mr. Darcy
shares the same opinion.” She looked to her right slightly and noticed Mr.
Darcy was looking straight ahead, but appeared to be listening to their
conversation and had shifted slightly when she said his name. Knowing he was
listening gave her a strange feeling, but she could not name it.
“Does he? That should not surprise me. Darcy and I often agree on a number of
subjects.” He gave her a sly smile. “May I ask why you do not ride?”
“My father tried to teach my sister and me when I was very young, but I quickly
became impatient and gave it up when I had mastered only circling the stable
yard and sitting properly. My sister is much more patient than I and can ride
fairly well. I much prefer to walk.”
“Perhaps, with the right animal, you would feel differently.” Elizabeth
remembered Mr. Darcy saying the same thing and knowing he was listening,
considered her answer carefully. 
“Perhaps you are right, Sir Malcolm. Maybe I will try again when the weather is
warmer and the right horse presents itself.” He smiled at her answer and they
moved on to other topics until the footmen brought out the dessert.
In the adjoining room, some of the ladies were beginning to entertain with
music, and the four of them stood to leave the dining room. They listened and
applauded for the next three quarters of an hour, then headed back to the
ballroom, where Georgiana was led to the floor by Lord Matlock, and Elizabeth
was swept up by her next partner, giving Georgiana a quick smile over her
shoulder as she headed to the floor. 
Several sets later, Elizabeth was waiting for her latest partner to bring her
some refreshment when she saw Mr. Darcy and Sir Malcolm in conversation only a
few feet away. She didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but their words caught her
attention.
“I wonder that Bingley isn’t here tonight. I saw him at the club last week,
poor man looked terrible. What on earth has happened to him?” Elizabeth perked
up her ears to hear Darcy’s answer.
“I do not believe the Bingleys were invited. My aunt is not overly fond of Miss
Bingley,” Darcy answered quietly.
“Surely the brother can come without the sister! Though I do know what you
mean.” Sir Malcolm gave Darcy a knowing look. “I think I shall call on Bingley
tomorrow and see what’s eating him. He had the devil in his eye last I saw him,
very un-Bingley like.”
“It would be helpful if you could cheer him. I have had no success.”
“So you know what’s going on then? Poor fool looked as if he’d had his heart
broken! I would have thought someone had died if it weren’t for the absence of
black.”
“You are not far off the mark. I’m afraid he became entangled with a young
woman recently. The match was most imprudent; it is better this way.” Darcy
looked away, clearly not enjoying the conversation.
“What was so imprudent about it? Was she terribly mercenary or just not pretty
enough?”
Darcy ignored his sarcasm and continued, “She was quite beautiful, actually,
but her family was unsuitable. I do not know that she herself was mercenary,
but her mother certainly was, and the daughter wasn’t likely to go against
her.”
“Ah, the mother! Are not they all, Darcy? There is hardly a sincere one in all
of London. If the lady isn’t objectionable, cannot the mother be avoided?”
“I wish it were that simple. She is not merely mercenary, but wholly without
propriety. The younger sisters are no better. It would be an unfortunate
connection at best,” Darcy said quietly and with some distaste. Elizabeth held
her breath, unable to believe what she was hearing.
“Well, at least you got him away from her in time. Was the poor girl
heart-broken?”
“I doubt it. Why must you call her poor girl? I cannot see that her heart was
touched. She will likely move on to the next gentleman and forget all about
Bingley, though he seems to be having a hard time forgetting about her. I had
hoped he would have fallen in love with someone else by now – you know how he
is,” replied Darcy in a resigned tone.
Malcolm nodded in agreement. “Yes, I know Bingley. I hope he did not raise her
hopes too much. Even if she was not in love with him, surely she must have
realized that he would make a good husband.”
“Yes, he would.” Darcy’s voice trailed off and he looked about him
uncomfortably.
Elizabeth, not wanting to be seen, quickly turned and fled the ballroom. She
headed toward the front door, hardly knowing where she was going. She only knew
she had to get out of there. 
She could not believe it. Mr. Darcy! He had taken Bingley away! She
had suspected Caroline Bingley all along, and had initially wondered if Darcy
was involved in convincing Bingley not to return, but since she had gotten to
know him better, she had not been able to believe it of him. Her eyes were
stinging from the tears she was holding back. 
She quickly asked the footman to fetch her cloak and as she was waiting for it,
Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared, having seen her flee the ballroom. 
“Miss Bennet, are you alright?” He looked at her worriedly. She must not be
doing a very good job of holding her composure.
“I am well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I assure you. I simply wish to leave. Will you
please convey my thanks and excuses to your mother and wish her a good evening
for me?”
The footman arrived with her cloak and she quickly put it on.
“Allow me to wait with you for the carriage,” he said as he watched her
cautiously.
“I have not called for the carriage. I will walk. It is not far.”
“Miss Bennet! Surely you cannot be serious! It is the middle of the night and
this is London. Madam, I beg you, please reconsider and allow me to call
Darcy’s carriage.”
Hearing that name reminded her all too keenly of why she needed to leave and
she looked squarely at Fitzwilliam.
“I do not have time to wait for the carriage, Colonel. If you will excuse me.”
She curtseyed and headed for the door. The footman was about to swing it open
when the Colonel jumped into her path and blocked the doorway.
“Miss Bennet, if you insist on walking, allow me to escort you.” He signaled
the footman to fetch his things. “I can see you are in some distress and I
cannot let you leave alone.” 
The footman arrived with his coat and hat and he quickly pulled them on.
Not having the energy to argue further and not wishing to cause a scene, she
agreed and let him lead her out the door. They walked in silence for a few
minutes before the Colonel spoke.
“Miss Bennet, if you would like to tell me what is troubling you, I am a very
good listener,” he said gently.
She was momentarily disarmed by his kindness, but could not bring herself to
confide in him. “I appreciate your kindness, but I must decline your offer.”
She noticed his sympathetic expression and added, “I merely heard something I
was not meant to hear and it was not pleasant, and now I find myself rather
disillusioned – that is all.”
Concerned and slightly bewildered, he stifled his curiosity and said, “I am
sorry you are distressed and I hope everything will work itself out.”
A few more quiet minutes passed and they were in front of the Darcy townhouse.
Colonel Fitzwilliam rang the bell, and a surprised Hawkins answered, no doubt
wondering where the carriage was, not to mention the Darcy’s, and why these two
were walking alone together in the middle of the night.
“Hawkins, Miss Bennet has a bit of a headache. Could you please send a maid to
her room and send up some tea?”
“Yes, sir.” The butler hurried off to do his bidding, and Colonel Fitzwilliam
looked down at Elizabeth with a mixture of sympathy and affection. He really
had come to like her very much and rather liked the idea of her joining the
family. He did not like seeing her distressed. “Miss Bennet, I must return.
Will you be alright on your own? Should I send Georgiana home to be with you?”
“Thank you for your kindness, Colonel Fitzwilliam, it is most welcome. But I
assure you I shall be fine on my own.”
He bowed to her and headed back to the ball, wondering what on earth she could
have heard to send her running away in such a state. And how was he going to
explain it to his mother?
Elizabeth went upstairs to her chambers and met Hannah in the dressing room.
Hannah asked if she would like a bath. She considered it for a moment, but then
decided she wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. Hannah helped her out of her dress
and began letting her hair down. Glancing at the clock, Elizabeth realized it
was nearly four o’clock in the morning. The ball would be over by five. And
then Georgiana and Darcy would be back. She could not face him, not after what
she had heard. 
She quickly asked Hannah to fetch her trunk and began gathering her things.
Hannah looked at her askance, but did as she asked. Elizabeth sat down to pen a
note to Georgiana. She didn’t want to lie, but she could not leave her house in
the middle of the night without some explanation, and she couldn’t bear to say
the truth. She briefly considered waiting until she returned and saying goodbye
in person, but she was likely to run into Darcy and she did not think she could
maintain her composure if she saw him now. 
She decided the reasons behind that were better left unexamined at present, and
wrote that something urgent had come up and she must return to her family. She
would write soon and not to worry, everyone was well. She apologized for
leaving abruptly and wrote of her affection for her friend in the hope of
softening the blow. She did not mention Mr. Darcy.
As Elizabeth was sealing the letter, a sleepy footman arrived with the trunk,
Hannah following behind him. Elizabeth asked Hannah to place the letter in Miss
Darcy’s room where she would be sure to see it and quickly began grabbing
dresses and shoving them into the trunk. Hannah took the letter and disappeared
into the adjoining room, returning moments later. She wordlessly began helping
Elizabeth pack, neatly folding her clothes and putting them into the sturdy
trunk.
Between the two of them, it only took a few minutes to complete. Hannah closed
the lid and rang for the footman.
“Hannah, would you please ask Mr. Hawkins to find me a hackney cab? I wish to
leave immediately.”
Hannah’s eyes widened slightly, but she did as she was asked. 
Elizabeth took one last look around the room, knowing she would likely never
see it again. She noticed a book on the table next to the bed, and reaching for
it, she recognized it as the book of sonnets Mr. Darcy had reached for her only
a few days before. She picked it up and headed downstairs, silently saying
goodbye to the rooms as she went. 
She gingerly stepped into the library, which was lit only by the moonlight, and
made her way over to the bookshelf next to the window. She could not reach high
enough to set the book upright, so she laid it on its side on the intended
shelf, pushing it into place with her outstretched fingers. She blushed at the
memory of Mr. Darcy finding her reaching for it and how close he had been when
she turned around. 
She knew it was silly, but for a second, she had thought he might kiss her. She
chastised herself for her foolishness and shook her head to rid herself of the
memory. With a look over her shoulder to her favorite room, she walked toward
the entry and saw Hawkins holding her cloak.
“Your trunk is loaded and the carriage is waiting, Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you Hawkins.” Elizabeth smiled as best she could, but it was halfhearted
and it showed.
“Not at all, Miss Bennet.” He opened the door and she gasped slightly to see
the Darcy carriage. She could not see Darcy, not now. She waited for someone to
emerge, but the door remained closed. Realizing it was vacant, she looked at
Hawkins.
“I requested a hackney, Hawkins. I do not wish to impose and use Mr. Darcy’s
carriage without permission.”
“If I may, Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy would be most displeased if I allowed you to
go in a hackney. I am sure this is what he would order if he were here, and I
would not wish to incur his disapprobation.”
Elizabeth did not want him to get into trouble because of her, and she had a
strong feeling he was right, so she swallowed her urge to stubbornly resist and
nodded her agreement.
“Very well. Thank you, Hawkins. I have enjoyed my stay here. Please pass on my
thanks and farewell to Mrs. Hawkins and Cook.”
“I will, Miss Bennet. It has been a pleasure. Safe journey.”
The footman handed her into the carriage and she gave him the address in
Cheapside. It would be just after five when she arrived at her uncle’s and the
servants would soon be up, beginning preparations for the day. She looked out
the window as the carriage pulled away and unconsciously put her hand upon the
glass, saying a silent farewell; whether to the house or its inhabitants, she
could not say.

Chapter
14

“What do you mean, she’s gone?” Darcy’s voice boomed through the house, causing
more than one housemaid to look up in astonishment.
Hawkins stood before him in the study, a calm expression on his face.
“She is no longer here, sir.”
Darcy looked at Hawkins with barely concealed rage. He wanted an explanation,
and he was not keen on having to drag out each individual answer. 
“When did she leave? Where did she go?”
“She left almost immediately after she returned, and I believe she went to her
relations in Cheapside.”
“You believe?”
“I can check with the driver, sir. I ordered the carriage for her. I did not
think you would want Miss Bennet to take a hackney.”
“Certainly not! Did she suggest such a thing?” Darcy was dangerously close to
completely losing his composure. 
“Yes, sir. I told her you would prefer her to take the carriage.”
Darcy could not make sense of any of it and knew he was not going to get
anywhere with his mind so disturbed. He asked Hawkins to bring him some food
and slumped in the chair behind his desk and rubbed his temples.
What had happened? He had thought the night had gone well; even he was having a
good time. He had talked with some old friends from Cambridge, and when it was
time for the last dance, he had gone in search of Elizabeth. After searching
nearly the entire house, he had asked his aunt if she knew where she was. 
Her answer could not have shocked him more. She informed him that Miss Bennet
had left nearly an hour ago, claiming a sudden and harsh headache, and had been
escorted home by none other than Colonel Fitzwilliam. What? Why had she not
asked him to take her home? Why had the Colonel not informed him of it himself?
He had bid his family goodnight, collected a barely awake Georgiana, and called
for the carriage. 
By the time they arrived at Darcy House it was after five, and he hurried
inside to inquire after Miss Bennet. Hannah was seeing to Georgiana, who had
gone straight to bed, so he asked Hawkins to send her to his study when she
came down from attending Miss Darcy. He wanted the most direct information
possible.
He sat at his desk for a few minutes, trying to find something to occupy his
time while he waited for Hannah. He was exhausted, and his eyes were drooping.
He saw the sun rising outside and decided that Miss Bennet was likely sleeping
and that he should do so as well. He headed upstairs to his room, telling
Hawkins not to worry about sending Hannah, and took himself to bed.
His proposal would have to wait. It would not do to ask her while she had a
headache, especially if it was bad enough to cause her to leave the ball early.
It didn’t sound like Elizabeth to be ill, but he thought perhaps she had drunk
too much punch, which would explain the headache and the sudden departure if
she had been afraid of losing her composure. He could not really see Elizabeth
over-indulging in such a way, but as it was the only explanation his tired,
agitated mind could think of at the moment, he accepted it and gratefully
crawled into bed. When he woke up, he would find her and ask her to join him in
the library. 
All would be well; he just needed to be patient.
Now, several hours later, he was pacing his study like a caged lion and kicking
himself for not asking more questions earlier. What had prompted her to leave?
That was not like Elizabeth to be so rude, to not even say goodbye or leave
word. Maybe she had left a note for Georgiana. He quickly rang for a servant
and asked him to summon Miss Darcy.
Hawkins appeared at the door and informed him that Miss Darcy would await him
in her chambers.